​Highway 21, Kincardine, remains closed; schools, offices closed

Snow squalls continued to play havoc in the Kincardine area for the second day in a row, as Highway 21, from Grand Bend to Southampton, remained closed, Tuesday, due to blowing snow, heavy drifting, and poor-to-nil visibility.

Bruce County roads and Kincardine rural roads also remained closed, as crews struggled to clear the roadways of snow drifts.

School buses in Kincardine, Ripley, Lucknow and Walkerton were cancelled, and the schools were closed.

Bruce County issued a notice, advising motorists to stay off the closed roads.

“The winter storm event has created snow-covered roadways with significant drifting, making roadways impassable,” states the notice. “County plows ceased operations at 2:30 p.m. Monday (Feb. 17), due to unsafe conditions. Hazardous weather conditions are expected to continue through today (Feb. 18) and into the early morning hours of Wednesday (Feb. 19).

“Roads crews are working to clear roadways; however, stranded and abandoned vehicles are making progress difficult. The county reminds motorists to stay off closed roads as it is dangerous and slows progress on clearing roadways.

“Vehicles parked or abandoned on roadways could be towed and fined. They can pose a danger to emergency services and plows.

“During the road closures, local municipalities and emergency services have access to Bruce County’s emergency on-call line that activates the road crews to assist with emergencies. In an extreme winter storm, clearing roadways for emergency first-responders, including ambulances and fire trucks, is the top priority.

“If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911. For Bruce County winter road conditions and road closure information, visit www.brucecounty.on.ca/road-conditions.”

In the Municipality of Kincardine, all rural roads roads were considered closed, Tuesday, as well as Goderich Street, from Bruce Avenue to Huronville.

The Davidson Centre was closed all day, and all drop-in activities and programs were cancelled, including ice rentals, swimming lessons, and the Kincardine Kippers Swim Team.

The municipal administration centre was closed, as was the Underwood Community Centre (seniors’ cards was cancelled), Tiverton Sports Centre, and Kincardine Waste management Centre.

Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling cancelled both garbage and recycling pick-ups for Kincardine. Recycling will be collected on the next scheduled pick-up day, and the company will attempt to complete Tuesday's garbage collection, Thursday, Feb. 20.

In Huron-Kinloss Township, the municipal office in Ripley was closed, for the safety of staff and the public.

Garbage pick-up was cancelled for Sections 2 and 5. These will be re-scheduled for pick-up, Friday, Feb. 21.

The Ripley-Huron Community Centre and Huron Landfill were closed. The after-hours emergencies line, regarding municipal issues, is 1-866-299-5199.

As of 9 p.m. Feb. 18, Highway 21, from Grand Bend to Southampton, is still closed, as are the roads in Bruce County, and the rural roads in the Municipality of Kincardine.

For up-to-date road/weather information, visit: www.brucecounty.on.ca/road-conditions.php or call Bruce County Roads at 1-866–266-7569, option “2”. For Ontario highways – visit 511on.ca.”